Lions Chief Executive Michael Bowers will door-knock local residents living near the proposed venue this week to get their feedback firsthand and to answer any questions or concerns they might have. This community consultation is a key component of the Lions’ ongoing assessment of the site’s viability as a future members facility.
After investigating more than 120 sites, the Club earmarked the Logan location as the most suitable with its improved access for local fans, compared to its current inner city Lions Den social club adjoined to the Chalk Hotel in Woolloongabba. The proposal now represents a potential major coup for the Logan community and Springwood CBD.
The Logan-Springwood area has emerged as a southside stronghold of Lions members and supporters since the Club introduced extended family ticketing in late 2006 that includes any four children with two adults instead of the normal two adults – two children family sport packages.
The ‘no extra cost’ ticketing extension created a major surge in support from young southside families that has also seen the Lions recent partnership with the Hyperdome shopping centre bloom. A near capacity crowd of local Lions fans packed the Hyperdome’s Piazza on Thursday 6 March this year to meet and greet ten Lions players during their pre-season launch.
The event was such a success that another ten players will visit the Hyperdome Piazza on Thursday 10 July and a similar audience is expected.
The Brisbane Lions have also received extremely positive responses from their ongoing visits to schools and AFL clubs in the region as part of their commitment to sharing their football skills and personal development knowledge. This level of community reaction has helped convince the Lions that there will be a natural groundswell of support behind their proposed social club.
The Lions are hoping that locating the entertainment venue in their Logan-Springwood heartland will give fans greater access to the Club and let them feel more part of the team, with their own facility offering ample parking and convenient public transport.
The Lions would support the facility with regular player visits, full Lions match coverage on big screens throughout the venue, memorabilia displays, Lions themed events and competitions plus match-day packages linked with social club membership offers.
The social club will become a major hub for members to enjoy a meal prior to Lions home games and then travel to the Gabba on busways conveniently located near the site.
2008 Brisbane Lions Southside player visits:
• Co-captain Luke Power, Pearce Hanley, Travis Johnstone – Chatswood Hills Primary School and Kimberley Park State School (April)
• Joel Patfull, Mitch Clark, Wayde Mills – Kimberley Park State School and Springwood Road State School (April)
• Jamie Charman, Matt Tyler, Sam Sheldon – Kingston State School (April)
• Michael Rischitelli, James Hawksley – Park Ridge State School (April)
• Joel Macdonald – Beenleigh Junior AFL Club, Doug Watt Oval (May)
• Luke Power, Daniel Bradshaw, Tom Collier – Logan Cobras, Tansey Park (May)
• Matthew Leuenberger, Pat Garner – Springwood v Western Magpies match, Lowe Oval (May)
• Rhan Hooper – Logan v Robina match, Tansey Park (May)
• Anthony Corrie, Matt Austin – Western Magpies match, Tansey Park (May)
